Despite how you feel about dreams or dream interpretation, it’s always great to have a dream that makes you wake up with a smile on your face.
That happened to me yesterday when I woke up after meeting Rick Springfield in my dream. I was somewhere when I saw him through a glass window and started knocking on the glass to get his attention. When I found the glass door, I opened it and asked him what he was doing there. He was wearing the red shirt that he wore the night before at the New Orleans concert when he was so sick. (I wasn’t there but saw photos.)
We spoke for a few minutes – I don’t remember what we spoke about, but I did get one of those big hugs his fans always rave about – and then I woke up.
Dreams intrigue me – what does this dream mean? I bet RS has appeared in many fans’ dreams throughout the years. Here is a page from my 1982 diary, when I was 12:
On June 30, Rick Springfield will be featured in the debut of ABC’s “Greatest Hits,” a six-episode summer series hosted by Arsenio Hall. Of course RS will perform “Jessie’s Girl.”
The show is scheduled for 9-10 p.m. EST on ABC and will also feature “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins, “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes, “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr. and “Celebration” by Kool & The Gang” – all part of my 1980s soundtrack (which I’m sure is true for many people).
Those who were a big fan of 1980s RS and are going to one of his concerts this year after a decades-long hiatus will likely recognize most of the songs because there are so many hits from those days. But he’s also been including some of the songs from “Rocket Science” at his live shows. So far “Light This Party Up,” “Down,” “That One” and “Miss Mayhem” have been part of current set lists.
Which of these songs will someday appear on a “Greatest Hits” album? It’s too soon to tell of course – and RS has said in an interview that he had no idea “Jessie’s Girl” would be the hit off “Working Class Dog” and look what it has become today. (Does this conversation sound familiar?: “I’m going to see Rick Springfield in concert.” “Who?” “Rick Springfield. Have you heard of him?” “No.” “Jessie’s Girl?” “Oh yes! I love him.“)
So now that “Rocket Science” has been out a few months – it came out Feb. 19 – let’s see where the songs are today.
“Light This Party Up”: Fans first heard this song at the RS fan event at the Club Med event in April 2015. I unfortunately was not one of the fortunate ones to be there, but someone posted videos to share the experience. I first heard it live in October 2015. In December 2015, USA Today presented the official world premiere. About a month after “Rocket Science” was released, a snippet of the song was played in an ABC Wednesday night promo for “The Middle.” Then there’s this video, which is part animation, part concert footage.
“Down”: I first heard this song live in October 2015, at the same show as “Light This Party Up.” But by then, I had heard it countless times on videos other people posted from past shows. An official audio video was released in December 2015 and the official video – shot at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego – was released this week after an ABC interview in his home studio. The song also is currently the theme song for the “Sundays with Carolyn & Dan” show on QVC.
“That One”: The debut for this song was on the Yahoo Live Stream of a concert in Nashville, about a week before the CD’s release.
“Miss Mayhem”: Another one that was released in early February – before the CD. (B.C.D.?) This sneak peek debuted on guitarplayer.com.
“Pay It Forward”: The concept of this song was used for a benefit concert for the American Cancer Society in Palm Springs, California. If people weren’t able to attend the concert, but still wanted to contribute, they could purchase tickets for cancer survivors. Such a cool idea.
Let Me In: This song was originally released as a bonus song on “Songs for the End of the World,” but the “Rocket Science” version has more of a country sound. It also has a more upbeat vibe to it, which fits with the idea that the new album has a more positive message than its predecessor. This new version’s premiere was released in January 2016 on billboard.com, along with an acoustic version.
Time will tell what the destiny of these songs will be, but for now they are considered his new songs – although for many of his fans, they are already as familiar as ones on past albums.
And click here for the interview in his home studio that happened right before it.
Some thoughts:
Now that I know RS and the band are traveling by bus for this tour, I won’t have to keep an eye out on at the airport when I’m flying next month. Not that I was going to be in the same city at the same time as the tour dates, but that hasn’t stopped me before.
In the interview, RS says he’ll play for free and will only ask that travel expenses be paid. OK, fellow Arizona RS fans – let’s pool our funds for a private show! Let’s discuss at the Phoenix show next month… 😉
Cool video – great use of drones! And the concept goes so well with the idea of “Down,” looking down at the band and the water and the cliffs. Clever and oh so purty.
This past week’s news feels much more like “Songs for the End of the World” than “Rocket Science.” It may even be closer to a “Shock/Denial/Anger/Acceptance” feeling.
It makes me nostalgic for the “Working Class Dog” and “Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet” days.
If more people in this world were “Karma”-oriented and more “Tao”-conscious, there would be more harmony in the world.
(OK, I don’t really know what “Tao” means, I only have a sense of what it means and then found an article that said it can’t be defined in words, so that made me feel better…)
But seriously, what’s up with the world these days?
#Peace
(Note: For those not familiar with Rick Springfield’s albums, this post probably doesn’t make any sense, but it has to do with the overall mood of each album – and the world could use a little more “Rocket Science” right now.)
Now that there’s been an announcement of this summer’s tour, the next round of interviews are bound to happen as RS heads to different cities around the country. And fans will undoubtedly hear variations of the following:
“I just heard an interview with that musician you like, what’s his name? Rick Springsteen?”
I know, most people don’t pay that close attention to our favorite rock star as much as his fans do, but is it really that confusing? Is it only because they are both rock musicians who both have last names that start with “Spring” that people mix them up so much?
It’s usually harmless, albeit annoying, but there was a case earlier this year when an article posted about Bruce Springsteen cancelling a North Carolina concert was posted with a photo of RS. Whoops. But then there was some hateful posts against RS because of Bruce’s decision.
They did come into America’s spotlight around the same time. RS’s big breakthrough was in 1981 with “Working Class Dog” and Bruce’s cover story on Time Magazine (referenced in the 1980 RS song “Bruce”) was in 1975 after “Born to Run.”
They also entered the world the same year, a month apart: RS was born – as Richard Springthorpe – on Aug. 23, 1949 and Bruce was born that year on Sept. 23.
They also both have a song called “Human Touch.”
But I still don’t get all the confusion.
Good thing RS seems to have a sense of humor about it (as his song “Bruce” seems to convey).
So here’s a tip for those who confuse the two: The title of Bruce Springsteen’s most well-known album and single is “Born in the U.S.A.” Rick Springfield was born in Australia.
Maybe RS should go back to using his Australian accent when doing interviews?
Sadness permeates the RS community this week with the loss of guitar tech Ruben Velasco, who lost his battle with lung cancer at age 41 on May 31.
Even though it was known he was sick – he was first diagnosed in 2014 – it still comes as a shock because it always is when somebody that young dies.
What started as a fan effort to raise funds to help pay for medical expenses has now become a memorial fund to help his family pay for the medical bills and for his funeral. Learn more about the Still Rockin’ for Ruben Memorial Fund on at weloverickspringfield.com. Donations can be made on the YouCaring page.
As another way to help Ruben’s family, the RS team is doing a fundraiser for the upcoming summer tour: “The Rick Springfield ‘Rock for Ruben’ Backstage Experience.” This backstage experience for two includes an option to assist the crew as an honorary guitar tech during soundcheck and during the actual show, a photo opportunity with RS, an autographed guitar signed by RS to bring home, two limited-edition “Rock for Ruben” baseball caps and two functioning laminated backstage passes. The cost for this is $2,000. Learn more here. (See tour dates here.)
And tonight, Rowdy Ron – who is wrapping up his online radio show this weekend – is dedicating tonight’s show to Ruben by playing the hard rock music he loved. Tune in to “Remembering Ruben” at 9 p.m. EST here.
My condolences to Ruben’s family and friends.
Great pic of Ruben. With all of the musicians that passed this past year they needed a great guitar tech in heaven. pic.twitter.com/2lPyHRPt92
— Rick Springfield (@rickspringfield) June 1, 2016
My Rick Springfield crush 